Noise Pollution: Carl Barât, Echo Band, Chinese Football, Chui Wan, Click#15, Doodle, Treasure Hill

Well after two days of planes, trains, and automobiles, I’ve crash landed into Bangkok where I’ll be spending the next month, digging into the music and art scene as much as possible. But fret not, I’ll still be here week in and week out relaying the best gigs the summer has left to give. And trust me, it ain’t so bad. So before I dip into another food coma, here’s your weekend update. 
 

Friday, Jul 20

Carol Barât (UK) at Tango
Carol Barât, esteemed frontman for the legendary garage rock revivalist The Libertines (alongside Pete Doherty) are a big deal, particularly here in Beijing where their influence can be felt across punk bands of all of all ilk. While Barât went on to form another chart-topping band, Dirty Pretty Things, in the mid-2000s, he finally went solo in nine years back. Catch him and his band belt out all sorts of hits and singles from his extensive punk career. RMB 400

Acid Accident, The Peppercorns at DDC
Lukas Thibaut, the dynamic drummer for both psychedelic wall flowers The Peppercorns and hard-edged, groove ready post-rockers Acid Accident says farewell to Beijing with one last go around with his two most recent bands. RMB 60

Echo Band at Jianghu Bar
Focusing on the diverse regional features, deep historical accumulation and folk origin of Chinese culture, Echo Band is searching for the perfect fusion of Chinese music elements and rhythm to create a kind of totally new, contemporary Chinese music language. RMB 80

One Drop at Yugong Yishan
Beijing’s premier reggae outfit, a multi-national troupe of musicians who play a range of music from ‘Roots Reggae’ to ‘Lovers Rock’ present their new original songs as well as of course some old favorites. RMB 100

Dusky Star, Awake Mountains, Armour Force, The Dark Prison Massacre, SIN at T-House
Get your devil horns ready 'cause this is a heavy metal night to remember. T-House returns to round up some of the more brutal metal bands this side of the city, including metalcore kids Dusky Star, brutal death metal outfit The Dark Prison Massacre, post-hardcore outfit Awake Mountains, and more. RMB 100

Dani Gurgel (BR) at Blue Note
Brazilian singer and composer Dani Gurgel brings her unique scatting syllables to Beijing with her new solo album TUQTI, a mix of the percussive and syncopated sound of the Portuguese language with the swaying curves of English, in tow. RMB 300

Zensoul, PO8, J-WAR, 11, Noflxx, Fresh Jah, Stan PB, EZ Yang Fizz at Omni Space
Catch these Chinese born American raised rappers, including Zensoul and PO8 from LA, part of the Cypher-Los Angeles crew, take over Omni Space with a slew of their friends from Chengdu, Beijing, and beyond. RMB

Jordan Darling, Michael Geelhoed, Steve Blaque at Pink Moon
American artist and producer Steve Blanque joins the ‘emotional, playful, erudite, and genuine’ folk songstress Jordan Darling, as well as alternative country singer Mike Geelhoed. RMB 66

D. Cortisol, Funk Fathers at Modernista
Get down with this special rock-filled, funk-heavy one-two combo punch featuring D. Cortisol and the Funk Fathers. Expect never been a grand ol’ time. FREE

Gou Mao at Soi Baochao
Gou Mao grew up in Taiwan, heavily influenced by mainland music. The rocker now appears at Soi Baochao with his backing band, an eclectic group of professional musicians and musical educators. RMB 60

Chi Mu, More Feel, Lang Zhi, Li Yiwei at Mogu Space
Xizhimen’s Mogu Space celebrates two years doing what they do best – gathering an eclectic range of musicians looking to provide audiences with laid-back story-telling tunes. RMB 77

Saturday, Jul 21

Chinese Football, SNSOS, The 16th Floor, Last Goodbye, Nova Heart, Fazi, Smoking Area 25 at Tango
Here’s an all-star cast of a lineup. Headlined by four stellar out of town outfits – Xi’an post punk mammoths Fazi and indie pop outfit Island Mood, Wuhan emo rock sensations Chinese Football, and Taiwanese indie act Smoking Area 25 – with some of Beijing’s finest homegrown support acts including the electro-indie rock stalwarts Nova Heart, it’s a hearty late afternoon into evening mash-up of the indie rock scene’s finest. RMB 180

Click#15, Xiao Wang, L.S.T, Hangnail, Early Bus, H.O.G at School
Looking to escape the heat? Then head over to D.O.G and School Bar’s 5th Annual Hutong Bikini Party which as you guessed involves great music, tons of alcohol, multiple kiddy pools, water guns, and more. Bikini wearers get in for free! Plus free beer! Music comes courtesy of Prince-inspired funk ensemble Click#15, artsy punk rockers Xiao Wang, the electro-indie project of Da Bang drummer Li Nan called L.S.T., hardcore punk dudes Hangnail, long-running reggae ska band Early Bus, and hip-hop collective H.O.G. (Honor of the Ghetto). Yup – it’s on. RMB 100, RMB 50 (if in swimsuit), FREE (if in bikini)

Chui Wan, Dirty Fingers at Yugong Yishan
The indispensable psychedelic rockers Chui Wan, who tie everything from Spanish dance to Arabic music into their intricate grooves, are back after a stellar 2017 which saw the release their much-acclaimed third LP, The Landscape The Tropics Never Had as well as much wider global attention. They’ll be showcasing their new lineup tonight with support from Shanghai punk renegades Dirty Fingers. RMB 150

Treasure Hill at Pink Moon
The new and exciting rap team Treasure Hill, established in early 2018, and as far as I can tell the reincarnation of Chengdu rap collective L1STALLDO, swing through Beijing as they release their stellar debut album. Categorized to some as “alternative rap” their members are composed of rappers SanCebai and Jin Tiao Zao and an array of producers, animators and creative – creating a unique hip-hop sensibility that could easily take off. RMB 100

Suramya Pushan Dasgupta & Steve Albert Michael at Yichang Café
Yichang Café is back and boy does it feel good. The cozy courtyard space is happy to introduce two talented performers of Indian folk fusion music to restart their string of concerts – theatrician, actor, painter, musician, and skilled table player Suramya Pushan Dasgupta and guitarist and vocalist Steve Albert Michael, both all the way from India. RMB 80

MC DirtyMoss at Yue Space
DirtyMoss is a Beijing MC with a '90s New York sensibility and one of the members of the Half A Blunt crew. His works are sharp, slamming stupidity with humorous lyrics with the passion of an erupting volcano. His latest release, Interact has become one of the most anticipated pieces of Chinese hip-hop. RMB 120  

Marc Ribot’s Ceramic Dog (US) at Blue Note
American guitarist and composer Marc Ribot’s work has touched on many styles, including no wave, free jazz, rock, and Cuban music. He has collaborated with the best of them – from Tom Waits, Elvis Costello to Vinicio Capossela and John Zorn. With Ceramic Dog he turns his focus to corruption, tyranny, life in general, and nothing in particular – an avant-garde ‘explosive cocktail of balls-to-the-wall abandon, chameleonic disregard for style constraints, political commentary, and absurdist humor’. RMB 400

The Peking Floyd at DDC
Beijing's Premier Pink Floyd tribute band bring their vast and ever-increasing collection of cuts from Pink Floyd's most creative years including Dark Side of the Moon in its entirety. While staying true to the original structure, Peking Floyd prides itself on emulating the live performances of Pink Floyd during the 1970s when their improvisation and psychedelic jamming were at their best. RMB 60

Drunkard, Huan Zi, Need A Name at Mao Livehouse
Longstanding grunge outfit Drunkard unleash their new MV upon the world as well as a horde of new, never heard before songs. They’ll be supported by friends Huan Zi and Need A Name. RMB 100

Friendly Tips, Toy Soldiers, Youthful Heat, Quick Witted Space at Laifu Livehouse
Rock and roll in all its form take over the Shuangjing space as pop punks Friendly Tips join skaters Toy Soldiers and more. RMB 60

The Spice Cabinet at Modernista
The Spice Cabinet is back to Modernista for a surprise show to make up for The Odd Cabaret last minute cancellation. Come to enjoy some pop turned jazz, or jazz turned bad, or hyper horned hit charted jazz lost in the punch line. FREE

Zhang Qianqian at Mogu Space
Veteran sing-songwriter Zhang Qianqian, a staple of the folk scene since her debut in 1996, gives a special showcase for Mogu Space’s 2 Year Anniversary. RMB 88

Qin Jianran at DDC
The classically trained jazz guitarist Qin Jianran invites his merry band of skilled performers to DDC for some afternoon buoyant jazz flavors. 3pm start. RMB 60
 

Sunday, Jul 22

Doodle (TW), Backspace at BSP Livehouse
Taiwanese outfit Doodle, established in 2004, bring their melodic brand of shoegaze, mixed with elements of twee, space rock, and psychedelic music. Their soft vocals and immersive guitar walls of sound they create might be the perfect Sunday antidote for those misted minds. Support from the ever-busy noise rock renegades Backspace, fresh off their wonderful debut, who are prepping up for their nationwide tour. RMB 90

Mimik Banka, Poshangcun at DDC
Mimik Banka (formerly 16 mins) – the shape-shifting alternative rock quartet, whose genre-bending contemporary style has made them one of the scene's most unique groups, joins sunshine folk-pop group Poshangcun, another band that has amassed legions of fans over the years. The two are teaming up for a special Sunday evening showcase entitled ‘Green Banana Party’. RMB 60

The Dark Prison Massacre, Song of Chu, Spirit Trace, Xu Ji, Purgatory, Zi Ming at Yue Space
This Sunday six metal bands gather for a metal feast that’ll fill you right up – on the menu are brutal death metal band The Dark Prison Massacre, Chinese folk metal outfit Spirit Trance, melodic death metal outfit Purgatory and much more. RMB 150

Labor Glory, Nigou, Ban Band, Hz at School Bar
Finish up the weekend with some rock and roll comfort food courtesy of ultras punk group Labor Glory, indie garage rockers Nigou, hardcore nu-metal infused ensemble Hz, and indie rockers Ban Band. RMB 60

Marc Ribot’s Ceramic Dog (US) at Blue Note
American guitarist and composer Marc Ribot’s work has touched on many styles, including no wave, free jazz, rock, and Cuban music. He has collaborated with the best of them – from Tom Waits to Elvis Costello, Vinicio Capossela to John Zorn. With Ceramic Dog he turns his focus to corruption, tyranny, life in general, and nothing in particular – an avant-garde ‘explosive cocktail of balls-to-the-wall abandon, chameleonic disregard for style constraints, political commentary, and absurdist humor’. RMB 400

Rudra’s Sage, Zou Yiyi at Mogu Space
Philippines born sitar player Rudra’s Sage, a scene regular since the heydays of River Bar in Sanlitun, and who studied down the street from Ravi Shankar’s guru, helps Mogu Space celebrate two years alongside Zou Yiyi. RMB 60

Terence Hsieh Jazz Trio at Modernista 
Nothing better to keep you cozy in this rain but some smooth jazz by American trombone player Terence Hsieh and his TH3, a straight-ahead cordless, swinging yet intimate trio bringing a creative and fresh approach to improvisation. With talented Korean pianist Sejing Bae on keys and Latin jazz specialist Victor Bastidas on drums. FREE

Xiao Yao, Black Surfers, Lansezuanshi at Laifu Livehouse
Rock and roll, surf tunes, and hard-edged blues collide this evening in Shuangjing. RMB 60

Eric Allen, Ma Ke Tu Zhou at Pink Moon
Avant-garde folk-rock singer Ma Ke Tu Zhou joins Americana bluesmen Eric Allen for folk ramblings this Sunday night. RMB 66

Want to cut a rug instead? Check out this weekend's nightlife offerings here.

Photos: Live Beijing Music, courtesy of the organizers